Automotive X Prize: And the winners are ...

Automotive X-Prize vehicles line up in the Knockout Stage – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet the winners of the 2010 Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize. But before we get to declaring the victors, let's take one last look at the finalists:

Mainstream Class

Edison2, Very Light Car (team name, car name)

Alternative Class - Tandem

X-Tracer, E-Tracer

Alternative Class - Side-by-Side

Aptera, Aptera 2e
Li-ion Motors, Wave II
RaceAbout Association, RaceAbout
TW4XP, TW4XP
ZAP, Alias

Remember, the award ceremony starts in a few minutes and you can watch the stream here. If you want to see who won before the pomp and circumstance gets underway, just click past the jump.

Of the 136 vehicles that were initially registered for the X-Prize back in 2007, only 41 received design approval and took part in the grueling four-month long on-track testing at the Michigan International Speedway this spring. The elimination process continued as the vehicles progressed through several stages called the Shakedown, Knockout, Finals and Validation rounds. With the Validation round complete, the champions have been declared: the Very Light Car, the E-Tracer and the Wave II.

The New York Times is reporting the following winners. Emerging as the overall winner in the Mainstream Class and walking away $5 million richer is none other than Edison2 with its Very Light Car (VLC). The VLC sits on a 100-inch wheelbase, weighs in at just 830 pounds and is propelled by a single-cylinder motorcycle engine, which churns out 40 horsepower.

Taking top honors in the Alternative Class-Tandem and pocketing $2.5 million is the enclosed motorcyclelike vehicle, the E-Tracer.

After four grueling months of competition in the Alternative Class- Side-by-Side, Li-ion Motors, with its Wave II battery-electric vehicle, walked away with $2.5 million in its pocket and a victory under its belt.

With the winners announced, the 2010 Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize comes to a close, but our coverage of this remarkable event continues on. Stick with us for an in-depth look at each individual winner and tune in throughout the day for exclusive X-Prize updates.

[Source: New York Times]